Alaska Legalization Law Takes Effect

  • by Paul Armentano, NORML Deputy Director February 24, 2015




    Since 1975, Alaskans have enjoyed personal privacy protections based on a state Supreme Court decision allowing for the possession and cultivation of personal use amounts of cannabis in one’s home. However, state lawmakers had never before codified these protections into law or permitted a legal market for marijuana production and sales.


    18 responses to “Alaska Legalization Law Takes Effect”

    1. If you want to be http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/FREE
      stop begging to be http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/LEGAL


      I keep wondering when people are going to stop playing word games for the benefit of politicians getting “political points”, and just fight to get their freedoms restored.

    2. Rob Robinson says:

      Alaska was 4th state , Oregon was 3rd

    3. Taebaek says:

      Oregon will on July 1, 2015, not so later this year. Also in Portland, Oregon’s biggest city, the Police have already said they will act as if the law is already in effect(last year!) and not arrest anyone…pretty amazing..once California goes…so goes them all I think…Hollywood anyone? peace.

    4. Julian says:

      Did anyone else just hear the report from NPR on Alaska’s legalization?
      “At the lowest level Alaska would be raking in $5 million in sales profit for recreational marijuana. But with a 5 billion dollar deficit from falling oil prices the average Alaskan would have to smoke 9 pounds of marijuana each to pay for the deficit…”

      IS that a CHALLENGE?

      You hear that Alaska? Better break out the frisby golf and tie vaporizers to your necks, it ‘s time to BALANCE the BUDGET!

      Seriously, while NPR’s report does a great job of explaining Alaska’s exemplary privacy laws, it never ceases to Amaze me when reporters only account for recreational marijuana sales and leave out innovative patenting and investment for commercial operations or industrial hemp products.
      The NPR reporter says, “Well, we don’t have demand from bordering states,” (was that a jab at Colorado?) but thanks to our privacy clause we could always grow 6 plants.”

      Uhmmm… Alaska, did it ever occur to you that your friendly neighboring Canadanian banks are already investing in major grow operations?

      While Alaska’s state Congress is still “drafting legislation,” how about writing in some rules for banking and commercial operations? How long will we need the investment from Canada? Until the Feds end prohibition? Can’t we write legislation with pending stipulations?

    5. Julian says:

      Or just go Jamaican and throw a bale in the fireplace and shut all the windows. THAT oughta balance the Alaskan State budget!

    6. mexweed says:

      Completing @Julian’s point about innovative patenting and investment, vaping 25-mg tokes of the herb itself instigates more innovation than anything– beyond “medical” and “recreational” there’s “inspirational” and “occupational”, especially if your occupation is invention and solving big technoeconomic problems. Anyone who “uses” it learns more ways to use it (Canadanians, this includes you).

    7. everyone! go to White House Petitions :open WE THE PEOPLE go down to MAKE MARIJUANA LEGAL AND SIGN PETITION. IT’S GAINING SPEED

    8. Nunya says:

      So, I have a question that covers every state that has regulated this miracle plant. How can we say anyone is trying to regulate it like alcohol? I can walk into any watering hole I wish and get snot-puking drunk, but I can’t order a joint and smoke it with my friends at our table? Regulated like alcohol it is not.

    9. Dave Evans says:

      Nunya, when will the lies end? It should be regulated to 10% of the regulations alcohol is burdened with. It should regulated similar to alcohol, which means you should be able to imbibe marijuana where ever alcohol is welcome. At issue though, is smoke doesn’t stay at your table and in a cup like an alcoholic drink does. Hence why smoking in public could result in children being exposed to marijuana smoke. However, as long as an establishment takes reasonable precautions to avoid children being exposed to marijuana smoke, then that is all the regulation that should be required.

    10. Nunya says:

      Dave Evans, very good point about the smoke not staying in the glass (that’s nifty). However, there are things like brownies (forgive me) and the sodas. Also, Tennessee’s smoking ban gives exemptions for establishments that have a “21 and over” policy. Also, I’m not saying allow it where alcohol can be bought and consumed, just that there should be more of an uproar about allowing bar-type businesses that serve pot, like the cafes in Amsterdam.